U. P. garage bands recognized

The Excels from Marquette are among
12 vintage Upper Peninsula bands included
in the newly-published book "Fuzz, Acid and
Flowers Revisited (Expanded Edition)" by
Vernon Joynson.

By STEVE SEYMOUR

It may have taken decades, but Upper Peninsula-based garage bands are finally getting some of the recognition they deserve.

A dozen of those regional groups have been included in the newly published book "Fuzz, Acid and Flowers Revisited (Expanded Edition)" by Vernon Joynson.

The 1,398 page tome, abbreviated here as FAF, is a detailed guide to U. S. psychedelic, garage and hippie-rock recordings of the 1963-1977 era.

Started by Baby Boomers in the wake of the Beatles-led British Invasion, countless garage bands from around the country went undocumented and unheralded, despite leaving records in their wake.

Published by Borderline Productions, Joynson's book goes a long way in correcting that oversight.

Newly included are the Excels (Marquette) Renaissance Fair (Sault Ste. Marie) and Prophets of Doom and Riot Squad (both from Escanaba).

The Escanaba bands each issued a single on the local Peninsula Records label, while the Excels released five 45s on Detroit's Carla imprint. Renaissance Fair had three 7-inch discs, including "In Wyrd," considered a garage band classic.

They join eight U. P. bands covered in previous editions of the book: the Fastells (Negaunee), French Church (Marquette), Joey Gee and the Blue Tones (Iron Mountain), Henchmen VI (Ontonagon), Kinetic Energy (Houghton), Rob Kirk and the Word (Sault Ste. Marie), Lexington Project (Kingsford) and the Ravelles (Iron Mountain).

I got a copy of Joynson's book not only because it covers a subject I enjoy, but also because I was asked to contribute to it.

Last January I was contacted by Max Waller, a long-time record collector and amateur researcher for FAF as well as a CD series called "Psychedelic States," issued by the Gear Fab label.

The U.K.- based Waller was familiar with my Rock 'n' Roll Graffiti website and book and sought my input concerning U. P. groups of the garage band era.

Waller told me he's involved in record research for the fun of it. "I do this purely because it's a fascinating and enjoyable hobby."

Actually, I was familiar with Weller because he contributed to a previous edition of FAF which I already owned.

"My mission has always been to 'spread the word' to others who enjoy the same sort of music. I've sought out and engaged many other regional experts to improve the quality and authority of data for this project so that we can try to do the bands' legacies justice," Waller told me.

"When I started collecting U. S. garage/psych, way back in the early-mid 70s, I knew absolutely no one else who did, so it was a steep and rocky learning curve with nothing to help guide me along the way."

Collecting relatively obscure 45s from across the Atlantic Ocean provided another challenge for Waller.

"I've always been more into U. S. 60s bands than U. K. My all-time fave band is The Electric Prunes."

Retired since 2005, Waller worked for British Airlines and made numerous trips stateside in the 80s and early 90s for record hunts and bowling tournaments. In fact, Waller nearly took a job with American Airlines in Kansas, but finally decided on London.

With emails and the internet, Waller no longer needs to travel to indulge his record collecting hobby.

Waller and I exchanged a number of emails early in the year to beef up the U. P.'s representation in his friend Vernon Joynson's book.

The 6th edition of FAF finally reached U. S. shores just a few weeks ago.

Weighing in at eight lbs., the book is an impressive compendium of discographies, personnel details and band histories representing thousands of U. S. groups.

I purchased my copy from the internet book seller Amazon for about $69.

While the volume's massive size dictates the price, the information it contains is indeed priceless.

"I hope you'll find it a useful and entertaining read, ideal for when you're snowed in," Waller stated.

The book "still tends to concentrate on bands who released LPs, because Vernon is an LP collector. I've tried over the last two decades to plug gaps by covering some of the countless and lesser-known but equally worthy local bands who only made it onto 45, although I'm well aware that I've barely scratched the surface," Waller stated.

"At least in this edition your neck of the woods is better represented," he added.

Author Joynson was kind enough to thank me in the book's credits for information on "Michigan's previously undocumented Upper Peninsula scene."

As long as can be bound at its size, FAF looks like a big city telephone directory.

Although a dozen U. P. garage bands are included in the new book, a number aren't.

While the Galaxies (Ironwood), Rhythm Rockers (Alston) and Vigilantes (Ontonagon) cut 45 rpm singles, they were omitted because they predate FAF's timeframe which concentrates on the 1964-1969 era for this style of music, Waller said.

He also chose not to include an entry for Mike "Cub" Koda, who cut a solo single while a student at Northern Michigan University in Marquette. The book does have a listing for Koda's early band, known as the Del-Tinos. The guitarist later founded Brownsville Station, famous for the hit "Smokin' in the Boys Room."

But for lack of space other U. P. combos would have made the grade, including Infinite Blue (Menominee) and Walrus (Marquette).

Of course such a giant book can never be perfect, considering the wealth of information it contains.

FAF is prolifically illustrated with albums covers, many in color, and sections concerning CD compilations and re-issue labels.

During its heyday, the garage band scene in the U. S. received very little official notice.

Today, record collectors scour the marketplace for vinyl remnants of a bygone era when largely local bands hoped to make it big on poorly financed and distributed independent labels with blasts of unpretentious home-grown rock 'n' roll.

Now FAF has gone a long way toward assembling the the minutiae of what became a second American Revolution, involving every area of the country, including the Upper Peninsula.
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Mystery cloaks Archies show

Bay City-based booking agency Delta Promotions
represented this group of unknown musicians posing as
the "Archies."

By STEVE SEYMOUR

When word spread that "The Archies" were to perform in Escanaba four decades ago, excitement grew rapidly.

Afterall, the group was responsible for "Sugar, Sugar," the No. 1 hit for 1969, according to Billboard magazine.

A bubblegum classic, "Sugar, Sugar" was recorded by a group of studio musicians including Ron Dante (lead vocals) Toni Wine (vocals) Jeff Barry (keyboards) and Gary Chester (drums).

The song was composed by Barry and Canadian songwriter Andy Kim who had a hit with "Baby, It's You" in the spring of 1969.

"Sugar, Sugar" received wide exposure when it was featured on TV's popular Archies cartoon series, starring Archie, Betty, Jughead, Veronica and Reggie.

In each episode, the main characters performed a song and dance segment to the delight of a youthful audience.

"The Archies" had two hits the previous year with "Bang-Shang-A-Lang" and "Feelin' So Good."

A busy studio musician, Ron Dante was also the vocalist for the Cuff Links, famous for "Tracy." Earlier, he played on "Leader of the Laundromat" by the Detergents.

"The Archies" local performance took place at the Holy Name High School gym, although the show wasn't affiliated with the Catholic diocese.

Apparently sold as a family event, the concert was booked by Bands Unlimited.

Exact date of the show however isn't known.

Old copies of the Crusader student newspaper, Delta Reporter and Escanaba Daily Press didn't mention the concert. No flyer, poster, article, advertisement, ticket stub, photo or program has surfaced.

A number people remember the show, including Kim Erickson, Carol Nygaard, Nancy Gilbert and Jay Olivares.

Musician Kim Erickson, a member of the "Upstairs to the Left" rock band, went to the show as a joke. "Boy, were we surprised when they started out with 'Hush' by Deep Purple. They did not play the music that made them popular with the young teenagers," Erickson recalled.

Carol Nygaard of Sault Ste. Marie, who went to the show with her friend Nancy Gilbert of Escanaba, remembered differently. "They did sing all their popular hits, including 'Jingle Jangle," Nygaard said. Gilbert, meanwhile, recalled they had "really good seats on the floor." The band dressed in character and the audience sang along, Gilbert said.

An attorney in Dickinson County, Olivares was drummer for the opening act, rock band Prophets of Doom.

A junior in college at the time, Olivares dated the concert to 1969 or 1970.

The venue was "stacked to the rafters with kids and their parents who were fans of the Saturday morning program," Olivares recalled.

"The audience was expecting 'The Archies Show' just like the cartoon, where they dance around and smile. Well, these musicians just stood there and sang the songs as if they were bored to death. (They) were not dressed as they were in the cartoon and comic book."

Parents, thinking they were going to see "cute cartoon-types, instead got five or six 'hippies' who did not interact with the audience," Olivares observed.

"The highlight for me was when they played a seriously good blues tune with heavy B-3 Hammond organ parts towards the end of the performance. The audience was not amused.

"They were good musicians but were totally indifferent, did the show, and took the tour bus out. They didn't take a minute to meet us," Olivares said.

Were "The Archies" racing to their next engagement or flying under the radar?

"Rumor had it that they had an 'Archies' touring in the midwest, an 'Archies' in the south and one out west... who knows? There were definitely more than one 'Archies,' according to those we spoke to at the time," Olivares told me.

Apparently, demand to see "The Archies" led to the creation of faux groups.

In a 2004 interview, lead singer Ron Dante confirmed that he "never toured or made TV appearances as 'The Archies.' The comic book people owned the rights to 'The Archies' and wanted the group to stay as an animated group." (Although Dante provided Archie's vocals during songs on the cartoon series, he did not supply the character's speaking voice.)

In fact, Dante said the first time he performed "Sugar, Sugar" live with Toni Wine was on the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon on Sept. 4, 2006. Dante produced many hits for Barry Manilow and his voice is heard in countless TV commercials.

So, just who were those enigmatic troubadours who played their one-off Upper Peninsula gig as "The Archies" and disappeared?

That question may never be answered, but earlier this year I discovered that a Bay City, Mich. booking agency did represent a quintet billed as The "Archies."

I purchased a cache of promotional photos distributed by Delta Promotions, then located at 352 Tuscola Road, including the "Archies."

One 8 x 10 shows three young men and two young women identified as the "Archies," (the photo includes the quote marks) indicating perhaps that this was a tribute band.

Their actual names unknown, the individuals in the picture are portraying characters in "The Archies" cartoon series. Depicted, from left, were Jughead Jones (drums), Betty Cooper (tambourine, percussion), Archie Andrews (lead guitar), Veronica Lodge (organ, keyboard) and Reggie Mantle (guitar, bass).

I emailed the photo to Olivares who said this was not the group which played in Escanaba, despite Bay City's proximity to the Upper Peninsula.

Seeking further information, I sent the picture to Gary Johnson, rock historian and founder of Michigan Rock and Roll Legends, who lives in the Bay City area.

According to Johnson, Delta Promotions booking agency existed from 1965 to 1970, operated by William Kehoe and James Atherton.

Besides "The Archies," the firm also represented Question Mark and the Mysterians ("96 Tears") and "The Zombies." A British rock band known for "She's Not There," "Tell Her No" and "Time of the Season," the Zombies broke up prior to their last song becoming a massive hit in 1969. Perhaps some Bay City musicians saw themselves as a "Zombies" tribute band, as well.

While specific details about "The Archies" performance may never be known for certain, perhaps the date can still be determined.

If you have documentation proving the date "The Archies" appeared in Escanaba, a shiny new "Absolutely the Best of the Archies" CD is waiting for you.

Can you solve the great "Archies" mystery?
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U. P. video propels Kid Rock

Pop star Kid Rock, pictured here in a screen
capture, showed his Michigan pride by filming part
of his "Born Free" video at Pictured Rocks National
Lakeshore near Munising.

By STEVE SEYMOUR

Michigan-born pop star Kid Rock has been praised for his "Born Free" video, which includes scenes shot at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore near Munising.

With hits like "Bawitdaba," "Cowboy" and "Forever," Rock is a music superstar with millions of fans.

The 39-year-old musician impressed Upper Peninsula locals when he showed up on Oct. 13 to film sequences for the promotional clip at Miners Beach and other nearby locations.

Rock arrived at Sawyer International Airport outside Marquette, traveled by limo to Munising, and flew home later the same day with filming completed. Before leaving, Rock posed with fans for photos and signed autographs.

In the video, Rock is shown singing and playing guitar along the Lake Superior shoreline. With fairly rough water, the footage was obviously taken on a windy day.

A helicopter was used to create sweeping aerial views of the surrounding area, including some impressive sandstone cliffs.

Those scenes were combined with footage taken near the musician's home in downstate Oakland County.

The video's freedom theme is re-enforced with film of Rock riding his motorcycle and driving a convertible in the Clarkston and Ortonville areas.

Those scenes were filmed on Oct. 8, and include Rock tooling around in his tricked-out 1964 Pontiac Bonneville, once owned by Audry Williams, mother of Hank Jr.

The video occasionally uses a split screen to dramatic effect.

Produced in just a few weeks, the "Born Free" video premiered Nov. 4 on MTV, VH1 and Country Music Television.

Composed by Rock and guitarist Marlon Young, "Born Free" is the title song from the album which debuted Nov. 16. The country rock song peaked at No. 31 on Billboard's "Rock Songs" list and also charted in Australia, Austria, Germany, Italy and Switzerland.

Released on Atlantic Records, "Born Free" opens the new full-length compact disc which was produced by the critically-acclaimed Rick Rubin.

The cover depicts Rock relaxing in the white Pontiac, his cowboy boots matching the car's western-style interior.

For the album, Rubin recruited an all-star band including drummer Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, keyboardist Benmont Tench from Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Los Lobos guitarist David Hidalgo and Matt Sweeney, guitar player for Chavez.

Guest musicians on the album include Martina McBride, Trace Adkins, Zac Brown, James Hetfield and T. I.

With the new album recorded at various California studios, Rock's Michigan-based Twisted Brown Trucker band stayed home this time around.

The 12-track CD has received mostly positive reviews and peaked at No. 5 on the Top 200 Albums chart and topped the Top Rock Albums list.

Rock had a hand in composing all the songs, with his share attributed to RJR Music Publishing at BMI.

A multi-instrumentalist, Rock is proficient on guitar, bass, banjo, dobro, drums, keyboards and harmonica. For the "Born Free" album, however, Rock concentrates on his lead vocals and leaves the playing to his crack back-up band.

Reviewer Stephen Thomas Erlewine noted a distinct similarity between Rock's new effort and classic Seger albums like "Against the Wind" and "The Distance." It's a accurate observation and Rock doesn't hide his admiration for Seger and what critics have dubbed "heartland rock."

In fact, Seger demonstrates his piano-playing skills on "Collide," a "Born Free" number which also features Sheryl Crow on vocals. Rock has collaborated with Seger previously, even modeling his "Live Trucker" album cover after the Hall of Famer's classic "Live Bullet."

The "Born Free" single received an early push when it was used during television coverage of the 2010 Major League Baseball playoffs.

Rock, once known exclusively as a rapper, performed at the Country Music Association awards on Nov. 10 and the American Music Awards on Nov. 21. In addition, he promoted "Born Free" with a halftime performance at Ford Field in Detroit on Thanksgiving Day when the Lions hosted the New England Patriots.

The singer will return to the stadium on Jan. 15 for the opening gig on his upcoming "Born Free" tour. Rock will turn 40 just two days later.

In a news release, Rock announced the Detroit concert will be a party for himself and "60,000 of his closed friends."

Rock's success with "Born Free" comes three years after he issued the single "All Summer Long" which mentions "northern Michigan" prominently in its lyrics.

Borrowing bits from Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama" and Warren Zevon's "Werewolves of London," the song tells the nostalgic story of a 1979 trip the singer made to an unspecified area in the north of the state where he fell in love with a 17-year-old girl.

The infectious tune includes the line: "It was summertime in northern Michigan."

"All Summer Long" became another world-wide hit for Rock.

Born in Romeo, Mich. as Robert James Ritchie, Rock has released ten albums and been honored with five Grammy Award nominations.

Since his early days as a rapper, Rock has been a musical chameleon incorporating heavy metal and even country into his act.

Once married to actress Pamela Anderson, Rock could have deserted his home state.

Instead, he has shown his pride in Michigan, as the "Born Free" video demonstrates.

Millions of people have seen "Born Free" on television. At the video-sharing site YouTube alone, "Born Free" has been viewed 1.3 million times.

That massive exposure for the Upper Peninsula couldn't be matched with an expensive advertising campaign.

Potential tourists have been curious about where "Born Free" was filmed and some would doubtless like to visit such a picturesque place, ready to spend their tourist dollars.

With such global interest in the U. P., perhaps this story will one day be rewritten as "Kid Rock video propels U. P."

So, thanks Kid Rock for the "Born Free" publicity.
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Beatles issued holiday records

"The Beatles' Christmas Album" was sent to
members of the official Fan Club and not sold
in stores.

By STEVE SEYMOUR

Thinking about the holiday season, I got out my copy of "The Beatles' Christmas Album" the other day.

Unless you're a die-hard fan you probably didn't know the group even had a holiday LP.

That's because the LP was sent to official Fan Club members only and never made available commercially.

The long-playing record collects seven exclusive "Christmas messages" the Beatles issued on flexi-discs from 1963-1969 and mailed directly to club members. (If you didn't know, flexi-discs were manufactured on paper thin pieces of plastic but perfectly compatible with conventional record players.)

After their 1970 break-up, all four solo Beatles added to that holiday legacy by issuing popular 45s like "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" by John Lennon, "Ding Dong; Ding Dong" by George Harrison and "Wonderful Christmastime" by Paul McCartney. Ringo Starr even delivered an entire album of holiday songs.

Released in 1971, "Happy Xmas" is actually credited to John & Yoko and the Plastic Ono Band with the Harlem Community Choir. Composed by Lennon and wife Yoko Ono, the song reached No. 3 when first released and has since become a holiday classic.

Produced by John & Yoko with Phil Spector, "Happy Xmas" was originally written to protest the Vietnam War. It has been re-issued numerous times and most recently hit No. 32 on the adult contemporary chart during the holiday period in 1995.

"Happy Xmas" is included on Lennon's "Power to the People: The Hits," in both audio and video versions.

Former bandmate George Harrison entered the seasonal fray in 1974 with "Ding Dong; Ding Dong" adding New Year's Day to the mix. The original song topped off at No. 36 in early 1975.

In his autobiography, Harrison said he got the lyrics for "Ding Dong" from words engraved on the wall at his Friar Park estate, built years ago by Sir Frankie Crisp. In the song, Harrison asks listeners to "ring out the old, ring in the new" and "ring out the false, ring in the true."

Harrison had great expectations for "Ding Dong" even taping a video to accompany the song. Included on his "Dark Horse" album, the record may have missed some airplay since it was issued late in the holiday season.

Ex-bandmate Ringo Starr is credited as drummer on Harrison's festive single.

Paul McCartney, meanwhile, issued "Wonderful Christmastime"/"Rudolph the Red Nosed Reggae" in 1979. The single didn't chart at that time, but earned a Top Ten spot when it was reissued in 1984.

Of course, McCartney wrote and produced both tracks.

A promotional video was shot in England on Nov. 16, 1979. Depicting McCartney in a pub at the center of a sing-along, the "Wonderful Christmastime" clip is included in "The McCartney Years" DVD collection.

Starr, on the other hand, got into the festive spirit with his "I Wanna Be Santa Claus" compact disc. Although it didn't sell in massive quantities, Starr's Christmas offering was well-received by critics.

Issued during the drummer's tenure at Mercury Records, the disc contains "The Little Drummer Boy," and such original numbers as the title song, "Come On Christmas, Christmas Come On" and "Pax Um Biscum (Peace Be With You)."

Starr's Christmas album is just the latest title in a Beatles' tradition dating back to the dawn of their popularity in 1963.

At that time, the group issued "The Beatles Christmas Record" strictly for dues-paying fans. The recording was never sold in shops.

As the Beatles gained popularity, the Christmas platters continued. The recording for 1964 was "Another Beatles Christmas Record," the entry was 1965 was imaginitively called "The Beatles Third Christmas Record," while the group's 1966 message was entitled "Pantomime: Everywhere It's Christmas."

A yearly gift to fans, the Christmas messages were fast-paced pastiches of song bits, sketches, comedy and Beatle banter.

The Beatles booked time at EMI Studios in London on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 1967 to record their fifth flex-disc. The four musicians composed "Christmas Time Is Here Again" just for the occasion.

According to EMI log sheets, the Beatles completed the recording in 8 hours and 45 minutes. It was mixed the following day and sent to the Lyntone Records for manufacturing and shipment to fans around the world.

The Beatles continued to issue Christmas messages in 1968 and 1969, but taped their contributions separately rather than collectively as they had in the past.

With the Beatles officially split by Christmas, 1970 the seven recordings were collected on an vinyl LP, again only distributed to Fan Club members.

"The Beatles' Christmas Album" features an eye-catching cover created by Robert Bauman depicting the individual members as their look evolved over the period 1966 to 1970.

The cover's reverse side pictures six of the flexi-disc covers and carries the notice "not for sale." Album design was credited to Grok It.

The U. S. version of the LP was shipped from the Fan Club's mailing address at P. O. Box 505, Radio City Station, New York.

Because it wasn't available commercially and demand among fans was high, "The Beatles' Christmas Album" became an instant collectors' item. Consequently, counterfeit copies of the vinyl album filled the void.

Today, the tapes for "The Beatles Christmas Album" remain in the vaults at Apple Records and have not been issued on CD, with two exceptions.

Some bits were mixed into the "Love" mash-up CD, released in 2006.

More significantly, a re-edited version of "Christmas Time Is Here Again" was issued on the four-track "Free As a Bird" CD in 1995 as part of the Beatles' Anthology series of archival releases.

Not wanting to waste a good holiday time, Ringo Starr recorded a solo version of "Christmas Time Is Here Again" for his 12-track Christmas album, released in 1999.

Composed by all-four Beatles, the song's lyrics repeat the title four times, followed by the line: "It's been around since you know when" and "O-u-t spells out." Starr's version even includes a guitar solo by Aerosmith's Joe Perry.

Despite the sparse lyrics, many listeners consider "Christmas Time Is Here Again" to be a highlight of "The Beatles' Christmas Album" and the standout track on Starr's holiday CD.

Whether recorded by the group or Ringo Starr as a solo act, the song neatly ties together the Beatles years and their post-1970 period with memorable holiday spirit.

List of 'Escanaba' songs grows

The new CD by English act Jimmy Lee and
the Edge of Chaos Orchestra contains a song
titled "Escanaba."

By STEVE SEYMOUR

Place names sometimes become song titles as "New Orleans" by Gary (U. S.) Bonds, "Memphis" by Johnny Rivers and "Theme from New York," by Frank Sinatra illustrate.

Believe it or not, at least five songs use "Escanaba" in their titles, including a number released in England earlier this year.

Britisher Jimmy Lee composed the words and music to his "Escanaba" song after an extended stay here.

The song closes a nine-track compact disc called "The Ragamuffin" recorded by Lee and the Edge of Chaos Orchestra.

"I toured the USA with my band back in the 80s and played in Escanaba," Lee told me.

"We got snowed in and stayed for four weeks," Lee said about his inspiration behind the song, adding he had a great time.

In one verse Lee sings: "Winter wind you sure blow cold. And living here a man could grow old. Or free. Escanaba you'll do for me."

Lee sings and plays guitar on the selection which is augmented by his seven-piece band, combining musicians from folk and classical backgrounds.

The group comprises John Wigg (fiddle, mandolin and banjo), Iris Bishop (duet concertina and accordion), Melanie Row (cello), Gary Holder (double bass), Steve Cass (timpani and drums), Clare Juliet (piano accordion) and Steve Ball (electric and acoustic guitar).

The song's final verse compliments the city: "Escanaba you treated us good. Escanaba they said you would. Escanaba you'll do for me."

"Escanaba" is a folky guitar-based ballad, almost a love song to the city. You can listen to Lee's song on My Space

Lee produced the album which was recorded "live" at the Blue Coconut Club, Pulborough, West Sussex, England.

The singer/guitarist still plays dates in the United Kingdom, years after his 80s Escanaba visit.

Another "Escanaba" tune can also be traced to the 80s.

This one was committed to tape by a quartet named the Clyng-Onz, a reference to the Star Trek television series.

The Clyng-Onz hailed from Anchorage, Alaska and were part of the northern underground scene which also included the Psychedelic Skeletons.

In fact, the two bands shared sides on a long-playing album issued by independent Bullhead Records.

The Clyng-Onz' side of the record is titled "Lighten Up!" and contains 11 brief songs in the punk tradition.

"Escanaba" is the sixth entry on the disc and clocks in at one minute and 32 seconds.

The Clyng-Onz recorded their material at Alaska's Surreal Studios on Sept. 6, 1985.

Singer Frank Harlan served as producer for the project.

Their record includes an "official song book" complete with lyrics and a caricature of the band.

The song tells of story of the vocalist living a rural lifestyle and partying in the Upper Peninsula.

"Farm living is the life for me; Riding my tractor in the U. P.," Harlan sings. The opening phrase was taken from the theme song to the "Green Acres" television series.

Any similarity between the two songs ends there, however.

Harlan also designed the cover art which features a picture of the band in front of a U. S. flag along with a photo of the Anchorage skyline.

Besides the LP, the Clyng-Onz offered two custom-designed t-shirts for sale.

In their heyday the band also appeared in a number of primitive videos.

You can catch the Clyng-Onz perfoming "Escanaba" on YouTube, the video-sharing website.

A third song titled "Escanaba" was copyrighted in 1978.

The tune appeared on a 7-inch 45 rpm record attributed to the Dopes and later with credit going to Zoom. The song on both 45s is the identical recording.

This "Escanaba" was engineered by Ron Lagerlof who now lives in Los Angeles, Cal.

The number was recorded at Pepperland Ranch, near Madison, Wis.

Lagerlof remembers little of the sessions which produced the song, however.

I recall buying a copy of the record during a business trip to Wisconsin's capital where the band played in the early 80s.

The singer relates his experience in the lyrics: "Escanaba, where are you; how did we wind up here? Escanaba, let me go; I'll forget you in another year."

Meanwhile, the song "Escanaba Beat" was included on a jazz album by famed alto saxophonist Sonny Stitt.

Musician Eddie Russ composed the number and is featured on electric piano.

Found on Stitt's "Tornado" LP, the song was recorded at Cinema Sound for Grand Rapids' Jazz Masters label.

Like the Clyng-Onz LP, "Tornado" also shows a city skyline, this time a generic one.

Russ named his instrumental number for Escanaba because he was "fascinated by the city," according to producer Bob Crawford.

Finally, Jeff Daniels' comedy "Escanaba in da Moonlight" contains a selection titled "Escanaba Mama."

The rock number was written and performed by the impressive line-up of Alto Reed, Jimmy McCarthy, Jimmie Bones and Martin L. Gross.

Reed is Bob Seger's sax player, McCarthy was a guitarist in Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels and Bones (born James Trombly) plays keyboards for Kid Rock.

The composers registered their work at Pure Harmonie Publishing.

Lyrics for "Escanaba Mama" include the line: "On a scale of one to ten in my book she's Miss Michigan."

The movie tells the story of Reuben Soady (Daniels) who must bag his first buck soon or risk being branded a jinx.

Soady's "Escanaba Mama" is his Native American wife Wolf Moon Dance, played by actress Kimberly Norris Guerrero.

When the song was released on the motion picture's original soundtrack compact disc, the folks at Purple Rose Music were horrified to discover that Escanaba was misspelled on the cover.

But, Daniels quickly remedied the problem.

He autographed each one, instantly turning the CD's and "Escanaba Mama" into collectors' items.
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